When a NASCAR driver wins a race, he tends to get all of the shine. However, the driver is just a fraction of the effort that goes into the victory. Winning on pit road is a huge value-add to any winning effort, and that is something that Reddick did benefit from. Credit goes out to his pit team which is now 1-0 on the season.
To be on a pit crew is no easy task. It takes speed and muscle — perfect for any former athlete. In Reddick’s case, he has a former college football player among his crew. That is Brandon Banks of Charlotte University, who is the team’s jackman. He is a former defensive lineman, and he even spent a short stint in the NFL.
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NASCAR Trains Former Athletes
NASCAR teams have begun recruiting former athletes for their pit crews. They commonly host pit crew combines to test new prospects and connect them with teams. Hendrick Motorsports is the leading team behind all of this.
Raising a car is no light task. These vehicles weigh around 3,500 lbs, give or take. The wheels only weigh about 27 lbs, but when moving them as quickly as possible, a powerful athlete can make all the difference, moving from 10th off the pit lane to 1st.
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Meet the No. 45 23XI Racing Pit Crew
Oct 27, 2024; Homestead, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) pits at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
(© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
The pit crews deserve their own shine. The five-person team includes the following:
Jackman: Brandon Banks
Banks is a former University of Charlotte and NFL defensive lineman. He joined NASCAR in 2018 through its Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Program.
Front Tire Changer: Hunter Masling
Masling is a third-generation “tire guy“. His family owned a tire business in Kansas. Despite not being an athlete, Masling comes from the world of tires and cars. While working in Kansas, a coworker suggested he try out for a pit crew. Masling took the advice, went back to school, saved up money, and the rest is history. He has previously worked with the No. 20 Joey Logano team and the No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. team.
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Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Ratcliff finds his way onto the 23XI Racing pit crew after the dissolution of Stewart-HAAS Racing. Ratcliff comes from the No. 14 team of Chase Briscoe. He is now a Daytona 500 champion.
Tire Carrier: Justin “Wade” Moore
Moore is a former D1 baseball player at North Carolina State. He would be drafted by the Washington Nationals and spend about three years in the minor leagues. After the dream passed, Moore found himself, like many former athletes, working on pit crews.
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Fueler: Brain Dheel
Dheel is the team’s veteran with 18 years of experience. Dheel is a former soccer player and even coached briefly at Pfeiffer University. He began with the Red Bull Racing Team in 2006. Since then, Dheel has worked with Furniture Row Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and now — 23XI Racing.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
